CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Director Brian Nesvik, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and Governor Mark Gordon joined forces to announce Inspire a Kid’s collaborative initiative to bring outdoor education opportunities to more schools throughout Wyoming.
WGFD Inspire a Kid’s goal is to educate Wyoming students in hunting, archery, fishing, wildlife, photography, hiking, conservation and other exploratory adventures.
School Program // WGFD
“These programs play a vital role in fostering conservation ethic in our youngest citizens,” WGFD Director Brian Nesvik said. “If we want to inspire the next generation of conservationists, we must start by teaching them about Wyoming’s wildlife and wild places at a young age. There’s no better place to do this than in our state’s schools and classrooms.”
Starting in January 2024, WGFD will pilot 20 to 40 schools throughout Wyoming to take part in the project’s conservation initiative. Conservation education programs include, Trout in the Classroom, National Archery in the Schools Program and Hunter Education. All three programs align with Wyoming education standards.
Over the course of a semester, Trout in the Classroom will allow students to raise trout from eggs and release them into approved local waterways. Educators will be provided with trout eggs, curriculum and support.
National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) teaches students discipline, focus, self-control and the patience needed in the sport of archery. Schools are equipped with everything needed to create an indoor archery range and educators are certified to teach the curriculum safely.
The Wyoming Hunter Education curriculum encompasses wildlife management and conservation, wilderness survival, wildlife identification, bear safety, field care of game meat, marksmanship and game laws. Students will use inert firearms, incapable of firing, made of plastic and wood.
Inspire a Kid programs introduce youth to the great outdoors with a holistic, hands-on approach and provide learning resources for families. WGFD works with teachers to help provide creative implementation, equipment, certifications and logistics needed for each classroom.
“We met with all the education partners in the state and asked, ‘How can we make this more accessible to schools?,’” WGFD Communication and Education Chief Nish Goicolea said. “Some schools are doing some really creative things like using one aquarium for multiple classrooms.”
Conservation Crates are an additional tool for educators to make conservation topics more accessible. These boxes provide educational supplies and corresponding lesson plans to all grade levels. Crates cover migration and habitat, management models, invasive species and diseases, animal adaptations and bear identification and safety. Fun materials like native wildlife pelts and skulls are included in the crates to foster in-the-field learning.
“I was fortunate to come from a family that fostered conservation from a young age through hunting and fishing,” Degenfelder said. “I learned life lessons in safety, self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, and gained a respect for the greater ecosystem and environment. These opportunities and lessons should be accessible to every single student, regardless of their background. These Game & Fish programs are fulfilling that mission.”
All schools in Wyoming are eligible to participate. Interested schools are encouraged to fill out a request on the WGFD website.
